P-51C NX1204
One of the famous blood red P-51Cs raced by Paul Mantz in the immediate post war years is NX1204, seen here on the Paul Mantz Air Service facility at Orange County Airport in June 1961. (JD Davis photo)
P-51C NX1204
The second Mantz P-51C was NX1202, which he sold in 1950. He held on to NX1204, however, most likely a sentimental nod as it probably did not fly again in Mantz’s hands after, probably, 1950. JD Davis reports that this airplane was displayed, gear up on pylons, in front of Mantz’s Flightarama museum at Orange County in the late 1950s. (JD Davis photo)
P-51C NX1204
Paul Mantz was fond of documenting things on the sides of his airplane, and the P-51C was no exception. The scoreboard for the Mustang remained until it was obliterated by the restoration effort undertaken by Kermit Weeks in the 1990s to restore the airframe back to a stock military P-51C configuration with a polished, natural metal skin finish. (J.D. Davis photo)
P-51C NX1204
Mantz P-51C NX1204 looking a bit sad and neglected in these 1958 views taken at the Mantz facility at Orange County in 1958. As far as can be determined, this P-51C was not flown much, if at all, 1953 when it was used to fly film reels from Labrador to U.S. television studios after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Why the engine was off by 1958 is anybody’s guess. (J.D. Davis)
P-51C NX1204
The outdoor display of the Mustang did it little good, as this close up of markings carried on the left side of the fuselage aft of the cockpit show. This view was taken in 1958, possibly while it was mounted on the pylons in outdoor display. This airplane had an impressive list of record setting flights documented here. This airplane went to Kermit Weeks in the mid-1980s and was rebuilt to flight status, albeit with a wartime set of markings. Much history was lost when the Mantz paint was stripped off, sad to say. (JD Davis photo)
Lockheed Orion 9C NR12222
Paul Mantz purchased Lockheed Orion N12222 in 1938 from the Shell Oil Company where Jimmy Doolittle had flown it. Mantz used it as an air racer with not much success, flying in the 1938 and 1939 Bendix races and coming in third in both races. Mantz sold the airplane in 1943 but was able to buy it back a dozen years later, in 1955, and added it to his significant collection of rare airplanes. (William T. Larkins)
Lockheed Orion 9C N12222
Mantz Lockheed Orion 9C, operated as NR12222. Mantz used this airplane as a cameraship and it was held by Mantz and Tallmantz until the 1966 sale to Rosen-Novak. It is seen here in August 1957 at his PMAS facility. (J.D. Davis)
Lockheed Orion 9C N12222
Another view of the Lockheed Orion, actually built as an Altair DL-2A in 1931. Looks like an Orion to me, though. Note the lack of a civil registration number and gear doors, once again in August 1957. (JD Davis)
Sopwith F1 Camel N6254
Sopwith F1 Camel N6254 on display at the museum. Tallman obtained the Camel from the remnants of the Jarrett War Museum collection in 1950. Tallman had the airplane flying by 1955 but was forced to sell it to Rosen-Novak eleven years later. It was later sold at the 1968 auction for $40,000 and is now displayed at the Arkansas Education Center at Little Rock. Note the extensive displays behind the aircraft with armament, photos, and memorabilia from both Mantz and Tallman. (William T. Larkins)
Lockheed Vega N965Y
Paul Mantz was closely tied to Amelia Earhart as her technical adviser, a fact little remembered these days of TIGHAR searches and Hollywood biopics. The whole story of Mantz and Earhart, if it ever could be gleaned out of history, would probably be a bestseller. Mantz purchased this Lockheed Vega, registered as N199E, in 1956, and was able to secure the civil registration number of N965Y, the same that had been applied to Earhart’s Vega in her record setting flights of the mid 1930s, and the airplane was painted to match Earhart’s scheme. It is interesting to see the “X” prefix on the registration, the early style of application indicating an experimental aircraft. This airplane is seen here in July 1963 with Tallmantz and was sold at the May 1968 auction. It is currently on display at the Ford Museum in Dearborne, Michigan. (JD Davis photo)
Lockheed 12A
The Mantz Lockheed 12A seen on the PMAS ramp in 1957. This airplane has a distinctive history even for a Lockheed Electra. After being built for Western Express, it was taken back by Lockheed and modified as a light bomber prototype with the designation of Model 212. Modifications included the addition of bomb racks and a power turret, the evidence of which can be seen in the upper fuselage bulge just forward of the dorsal rotating beacon. Lockheed sold sixteen of the Electra derivative, but the prototype was modified back to a Lockheed 12A configuration in 1940. (JD Davis photo)
Lockheed 12A
Mantz purchased the Lockheed 12A in 1946. When he purchased it, it was registered as N60775. Mantz was able to secure the tail number of Amelia Earhart’s fateful Electra 10E, N16020, and had it assigned to his airplane. The airplane was used for several filming projects in the 1950s. Mantz sold it in August 1961 to an investment group, but it crashed and was destroyed in December 1961 near Barstow with the loss of both crewmembers. The registration number? It is now permanently reserved by the FAA in the name of Amelia Earhart and not available for assignment any longer. (JD Davis photo)
TBM-1C N9394H
One of the Mantz TBF/TBMs, this being TBM-1C BuNo 46122 operating as NX9394H, marked with Weath-Air Inc. titles and noted as a Flying Laboratory. This airplane was later modified to become the “first” air tanker, except for all the other ones modified earlier. But it can be considered to be the first “modern” air tanker, that is, a surplus World War II bomber refitted for forest fire fighting. (William T. Larkins)
TBM-1C N9394H
Mantz’s TBM N9394H was not just used by Mantz as an air tanker. Here it is appearing in 1957 in the film Tip on a Dead Jockey marked as French military airplane. Note the abbreviated civil registration modified to become a French military marking. (Screen capture by Chris Brame)
TBM-1C N9394H
In early 1954, TBM-1C N9394H was modified as one of the first high capacity water bombers, better known these days as air tankers. It had a two compartment 600 gallon plywood water tank constructed that were lined with weather balloons. When the tank doors were opened, the water balloon burst and the water was dropped. In was used in a USFS research project in 1954 and 1955 dubbed Operation Firestop. N9394H made its first actual fire drop in September 1954 with a Mantz pilot at the controls. The airplane is seen here at Ontario (California) in August 1957. It retains the basics of the paint scheme worn earlier for its Hollywood debut. (JD Davis photo)
TBM-1C N9394H
N9394H as seen on the PMAS ramp in 1958. High visibility orange has been added to the nose, tail, and wings at this point. It crashed the same year, on August 19, 1958, with the tragic loss of PMAS pilot Joseph Anthony, while dropping on a fire 2 miles east of Springfield, California. (J.D. Davis photo)
TP-40N N923
TP-40N N923 with Paul Mantz Air Services at Orange County in 1958. A dual control P-40N, this Warhawk was first added to the U.S. civil register in 1957, and was obtained in 1958 by Mantz. Accuracy was not always a goal with 1958 paint schemes as is apparent by the one applied to this P-40 with pre-1942 insignia and Flying Tiger markings; still, it wore combat colors. It went to Tallmantz and remained with that collection until its 1985 sale to Kermit Weeks, who still owns this aircraft. It is in airworthy condition. Note also the Mantz B-25H camera ship in the background. (JD Davis photo)
TP-40N N923
A closer look at the underwing of the TP-40N in the above photo reveals detail of a camera pylon mounted on the wing’s hardpoint, with Paul Mantz Air Services inscribed. This set-up was probably customized for a specific film and is indicative of the specialized services offered by PMAS. (JD Davis photo)
Stinson L-1 N63230
Paul Mantz purchased this Stinson L-1 in the late 1940s for use as a cameraship. It had excellent low speed flying characteristics and a good camera angles made possible by the larger open fuselage on the aft end of the cabin. It is shown here in 1957 at Orange County finished in the standard Paul Mantz Air Services scheme at the time: white with red trim. As is also evident in this view, it had camera mount structure, apparently, added to the underside of both wings. (J.D. Davis photo)
Stinson L-1 N63230
A 1958 view of the Stinson L-1, which was a versatile Mantz cameraship and one that carried forth to the Tallmantz era. (John Voss photo)
Stinson L-1 N63230
Another view of the Mantz Stinson, this one in 1959 and also at Orange County.
Stinson L-1 N63230
Another view of the Mantz Stinson, this one in 1964 after Mantz and Tallman formed Tallmantz Aviation. This aircraft is now owned by Kermit Weeks and has been restored to its condition upon delivery to the Army in August 1941. (J.D. Davis photo)
Stinson L-1 N63230
The L-1 in flight shortly after it’s restoration in 2012 for Kermit Weeks. It is seen over Central Florida. (Image Credit: Paul Stecewycz/Warbird Digest)
